A Tasmanian tiger expert has dismissed claims the extinct thylacine has been re-discovered in Tasmania’s north-east.
“When I was checking the SD cards, I found some photos that were pretty damn good,” Mr Waters said.
“I know what they are. And so do a few independent expert witnesses, expert canine judges, feline judges, and a vet.”
Mr Waters said he believed the photos depicted a family of Tasmanian tigers.
He contacted the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery’s honorary curator of vertebrate zoology Nick Mooney for verification.
However, Mr Mooney said the animals were likely to be a different species altogether.
“Nick Mooney has concluded, that based on the physical characteristics shown in the photos provided by Mr Waters, the animals are very unlikely to be thylacines, and are most likely Tasmanian pademelons,” a museum spokesman said in a statement.
“TMAG regularly receives requests for verification from members of the public who hope that the thylacine is still with us.
“However, sadly, there have been no confirmed sightings documented of the thylacine since 1936.”
‘Mystery’ photos still unexplained
Pademelons can grow to 1.2m in length and weigh about 7kg.